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T.S.DENISON&COMPANY,Publishers,154W.RandolphSt., Chicago 



A DEPARTMENT STORE 
SANTA GLAUS 



A CHRISTMAS PLAY 
In Three Scenes and a Tableau 



BY 

ERNEST GODFREY HOFFSTEN 




CHICAGO 
T. S. DENISON & COMPANY 

Publishers 






A DEPARTMENT STORE 
SANTA GLAUS 



CAST OF CHARACTERS. 

John Kelly A Man in Unfortunate Circumstances 

Mrs. Kelly ; His Wife 

James Kelly Their Son 

Madge Kelly Their Little Girl 

Mr. a. L. Smithson A Well-to-do-Man 

Mrs. Smithson His Wife, a Charity Worker 

May Smithson Their Daughter 

Santa Claus Himself 

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS. 

Speaking parts for eight children in the first scene. 

Ten to twelve children, dressed as angels for the tableau, 
between Scenes II and III, who assist Santa Claus in dis- 
tributing presents and decorating the room. Opportunity 
is here afforded for a beautiful dance or other graceful 
movements. 

Eight to twelve girls who compose the carol choir, and 
who sing the Christmas Carol at the close of the play, as 
the lights are first dimmed and gradually die out. 

Note: It is not necessary to have adults for this play. Girls 
and boys whose ages range from sixteen to twenty years may 
take these parts and younger children accordingly. 

Between thirty-five and forty characters are needed for the 
complete cast, making this a desirable play for Sunday Schools, 
public schools, community clubs, etc. 

Time — TJic Present. 



Place — Any City of Considerable Size. 



Time of Playing — About Forty-five Minutes. 



copyright, 1918, BY ERNEST GODFREY' HOFFSTEN. 

? 



TMP92-009230 



A DEPARTMENT STORE SANTA GLAUS 3 

SYNOPSIS. 

Scene I. Pavement in front of a department store win- 
dow. Morning of Christmas Eve. 

Scene IL A room in the Kelly's house. Afternoon of 
the same day. Tableau. Room, same as in Scene II. Night 
before Christmas. 

Scene III. Same room transformed into a beautiful 
place. Christmas morning. 



COSTUMES. 

The Smithsons — Well dressed. Street costumes. 

Mr. Kelly — Santa Claus costume in Scene I. In Scene 
III he wears plain business clothes showing signs of wear. 

Mrs. Kelly and their Two Children — Plainly, almost 
shabbily dressed, although neat. They may wear the same 
costumes throughout the play. 

Angel Children — May be dressed as fairies, with or 
without the wings. 

Santa Claus — Regulation costume. 



LIGHTING EFFECTS. 

A lantern with different colored shades adds materially 
to the beauty of the play. Footlights with dimmer arrange- 
ment are also desirable. The department store window in 
Scene I should be lighted. A curtain of amber colored mos- 
quito netting dropped down in front of the tableau adds to 
the sense of mystery and suggests the idea of distance. 

Music may or may not be used throughout. The play 
may, of course, be made very beautiful by the accompani- 
ment of well-chosen pieces to suggest the spirit of the dif- 
ferent scenes. 

The Tableau should, at all events, have musical accom- 
paniment, as for instance : "Barchetta" or ''Gondolier Song" 
by Nevin, or both. 



A DEPARTMENT STORE SANTA CLAUS 



STORY OF THE PLAY. 

John Kelly, an honest but unfortunate man out of 
work, has secured a temporary position as "Santa Claus," 
whose duty it is to parade back and forth before a depart- 
ment store, ringing his bell and blowing his horn. A crowd 
of children flock about him, to whom he speaks encourag- 
ingly in answer to their numerous requests. 

Kelly's boy, James, is standing at the corner and ob- 
serves this scene. A charity worker, Mrs. Smithson, ap- 
proaches him, accompanied by her little girl. To her James 
tells of his father and hints at the family misfortune. Mr. 
Smithson soon appears, and learning hastily from his wife 
of the Kellys, gives James fifty cents to turn over to his 
father. 

The second scene presents a room in John Kelly's house. 
Jarnes is seen entering the room with food sent home by 
his father, purchased with the half-dollar. His little sister, 
Madge, is sick, and Mrs. Kelly is sad. They sit down to 
their limited meal, during which time Mrs. Smithson enters. 
She establishes herself in the confidence of Mrs. Kelly and 
assures her that better things are coming. 

The Tableau follows, during which the room is trans- 
formed into one of Christmas beauty. 

The third scene shows the astonishment and wonder of the 
Kelly family in beholding this fairy room. The Smithsons 
call during the morning, and John Kelly is assured a posi- 
tion, and all ends well. 



SUGGESTIONS FOR STAGING THE PLAY IN A 
CHURCH, SCHOOL OR HALL. 

The department store front for Scene I may be arranged 
as follows : Make a frame of boards six feet long, five feet 
high and twelve inches deep. This will serve as the win- 
dow ; the frame should be raised to a height of two feet 
from the stage or platform, and should be placed to the left 
center. About two feet to the right of the window frame 



A DEPARTMENT STORE SANTA CLAUS 5 

place the door frame, about two and one-half feet wide 
and six feet high. Having erected the window and door 
frames, cover the entire space with a screen of dark stiff 
paper or cloth, leaving the window and door spaces open. 
Allow for entrances at the extreme right and left sides. 
The door frame should have a swinging door inserted and 
the window front should be covered with mosquito netting. 
Across the back of the window stretch burlap or heavy 
cloth or paper, capable of holding toys and Christmas deco- 
rations, suspended upon it. The baseboard of the window, 
twelve inches deep, allows space for the installation of 
lighting effects, incandescent lamps being the best and safest. 
The front platform represents the sidewalk. The name of 
the firm, "Dobs and Snobs," should be lettered above the 
window frame. Footlights add very much to the effective- 
ness of the scene. 

The second and third scenes present an easy interior. Em- 
phasis should be placed upon the fire place, allowing an 
opening large enough through which Santa Claus and his 
angel children may enter. One entrance is sufficient for 
this room, for which the door used in Scene I is suitable. 

In order to add to the illusion of the Santa Claus-Fairy 
scene of the Tableau, it is effective to drop a curtain of 
neutral-tinted (gray or light brown) netting across the front 
of the stage. 

PROPERTIES. 

Scene I. 
Santa Claus suit. 
Bell. 
Horn. 

Letters from children. 

Toys and Christmas decorations for window. 
Half-dollar (coin). 

Scene II. 
Cheap, plain chairs. 
Kitchen table. 

Cupboard with a curtain in front of it. 
Worn carpet. 



6 A DEPARTMENT STORE SANTA CLAUS 

Fireplace ; red colored incandescent lamps for fire effect. 

Mantel. 

Clock. 

Lamp. 

Tea kettle. 

Bread, bottle of milk, sugar, tea, butter. 

Scene III. 

Same as Scene II, except for the new rug, curtains at the 

windows, cushions, a settee and a lamp. 
"God Bless Us Every One" in a frame over the mantel. 
Santa Claus suit. 
Sleigh bells. 
Small Christmas tree. 
Piece of white fur. 
Bob sled. 
A doll. 



A DEPARTMENT STORE SANTA GLAUS 



Scene I : Pavement in front of a department store win- 
doze, zvhich is decorated for Christmas. (See description 
of setting, page 4.) 

Santa Claus is discovered parading hack and forth he- 
fore a department store zmndozv, ringing his bell and blow- 
ing his horn as eight children enter singly or in pairs. 

First Child. Hello, Santa! 

Second Child. Hello, Santa Claus ! 

Third Child. Did you get my letter, Kriss Kringle? 

Fourth Child. I want a sled, don't forget. 

Fifth Child. And I want — want — let me see — (hesi- 
tates) I want a pair o' skates! 

Santa Claus. Merry Christmas to you all ! (Continues 
ringing his bell and blozving his horn.) If you are all good 
little boys and girls, you will get what you want. 

Sixth Child. My mother says I'm a good little boy. 
(Childlike.) That's what she said last week — and — won't 
you bring me a little dog? 

Santa Claus. What kind of a dog, my lad? 

Sixth Child. Any kind, Santa. Dogs is dogs. Just so 
he loves me. 

Santa Claus. You'll get a doggie, for doggies want 
little boys to love 'em and not throw stones at them. 

Seventh Child. Say, Santa, are you real; (naively) 
or are you just a ordinary man like my dad? 

Santa Claus (rattles his bells, blozvs his horn; sleigh 
bells heard in the distance). Indeed, I'm real! Don't you 
hear my reindeer jingling their bells: my Dasher, Dancer, 
Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen ! I'm 
just walking around here to see the sights and to get ac- 
quainted with all the people. 

Eighth Child. My big sister says there ain't no such 
thing as Santa Claus, 'cause, she says, how can he slide 
down a chimbley without getting hisself all black all over, 

7 



8 A DEPARTMENT STORE SANTA CLAUS 

and, she says, she never saw no black Santa Claus. He's 
always white. 

Santa Claus. Ha, ha, ha ! Tell your big sister that I 
send my big chimney sweeps ahead of me on my ride over 
the housetops and they sweep the chimneys faster than I 
can get to them. 

Eighth Child. That's what I told her, Santa (ani- 
mated), but she wouldn't believe me. She just made fun 
o' me. 

Santa Claus. Never mind, sonny, maybe I shall not find 
time to leave your sister a present this year and perhaps 
she'll think better of me next year. 

Eighth Child (animated) . That's just what I said to 
her ! I just told her you wouldn't come to her ! 

Enter James Kelly, follozved later by Mrs. Smithson and 
daughter, May. 

May (rushes tozvard Santa Claus). Oh, Mother, look 
at Santa Claus ! Hello, Santa ! 

Santa Claus. The top of the morning to you, my lassie. 

May. Are you the real Santa Claus that fills our stock- 
ings and hangs all the nice things on the tree ? 

Santa Claus. Yes, indeed, I'm good old St. Nicholas, 
who flies over the housetops, with my bag full of toys for 
good little girls and boys. 

(Children keep busy zvhispering to Santa and beaming 
admiration upon him, and also gazing at toys in store 
window.) 

Mrs. Smithson (approaches ragged boy standing off to 
side). And why aren't you with the children, shaking hands 
with Santa, my little fellow? 

James K. He's just my father. 

Mrs. S. Your father? 

James. Yes, he's just working this week for Dobs and 
Snobs, playing Santa Claus at $1.50 a day. 

May (breaking in abruptly as she runs over to her 
mother). Oh, Mother, that big boy over there says there 
is no Santa Claus! (About to cry, turns to the boy.) Isn't 
he Santa Claus? 



A DEPARTMENT STORE SANTA CLAUS 9 

James. Don't he look it? 

(May is satisfied.) 

May (sees her father approaching). Oh, here comes 
father! (Rushes toward him.) 

Enter Mr. Smithson. 

Mr. Smithson. Hello, Alice ! And my little May ! And 
now you have seen Santa Claus and told him what to bring 
you, I suppose? 

]\'Iay. Yes, and he's going to bring something for the 
Kellys back in James' Alley, because I told him how poor 
they are. 

Mr. S. That's fine, sweetheart, you must think of others 
and not only of yourself. (Turns to zuife.) And who is this 
little man? 

i\Irs. S. (sends May ozrr to Santa Claus to say good- 
bye). Go over to Santa, May, and say good-bye to him. 
(Turns to husband.) He is Santa's little boy and he tells 
me that his father is getting $1.50 a day for playing Santa 
Claus for "Dobs and Snobs." 

]\Ir. S. Where do you live, my lad? 

James. Back in James' Alley over by the railroad. 

Mr. S. What is your name? 

James. Kelly — Jim Kelly. 

Mrs. S. Is your mother home, Jim? 

James. Yes. Maggie, my sister, has got a bad cold and 
she's staying home with her. 

Mrs. S. How long has Maggie been sick? 

James. Well, she hasn't been out all week. 

Mrs. S. Poor little girl! 

Mr. S. (looks at his zmtch). Alice, we shall have to go 
now. After we stop awhile, I'll take May with me and 
you may go 'round to see Mrs. Kelly and the little girl. 
(Gives boy a half-dollar.) Here, my lad, give this to your 
father for his lunch. Come, May. (All exit severally into 
store except Santa Claus and James). 

James (bites the coin). Here, dad, is a half from the 
man that was talkin' to me. He said to get your lunch 
^^th it. Curtain. 



10 A DEPARTMENT STORE SANTA CLAUS 

Scene II : Poorly furnished room in John Kelly's home, 
arranged with a few cheap, plain chairs, a kitchen table, a 
cupboard with a curtain in front of it. At one side of the 
room is a fireplace. The effect of fire may be had by the 
use of red incandescent lights. On the mantel is a clock, 
and a tea kettle sets near the grate. An oil lamp is on the 
table. 

Madge is discovered huddled in a chair near the fireplace. 
Mrs. Kelly goes to her, bending over her. 

Mrs. Kelly. Madge, dear, do you feel a little better 
now? (Madge doses.) Madge, Madge, does my little girl 
feel better? 

Madge (awaking). My throat hurts, Mother. It hurts 
to swallow. 

Mrs. K. (aside). Oh, dear, I wonder if we are in for 
another siege ! It never rains but what it pours. Let me 
see your throat, dearie. (Examines throat.) Say "Ah," say 
"Ah," so that I can see. (Madge chokes, sputters and makes 
a fuss.) It's just a little red. It will be all right. When 
Daddy comes home tonight he'll go for something to make 
our little girl well soon. We can't have our little pet sick 
on Christmas Day. 

Madge. Mother, is Christmas going to be in our house? 

Mrs. K. Yes, darling, we are going to have Christmas. 

Madge. How can Christmas come to our house. Mother, 
we are so poor? 

Mrs. K. Never mind, my dear, God sends Santa Claus 
to everyone. 

Madge. That is what teacher said the other day. She 
was reading a story about a little boy named Tiny Tim, 
and when Tim said, "God bless us everyone," she told us 
that everybody is happy on Christmas Day. 

Mrs. K. What else was in the story, my dear? 

Madge. Oh, there was a mean man called Scrooge, and 
he was so mean that he didn't believe in Christmas, and he 
didn't want anybody to have Christmas. 

Mrs. K. Was he happy, my dear? 



A DEPARTMENT STORE SANTA CLAUS 11 

Madge. No, Mother, and what do you think came to 
him? 

Mrs. K. Tell me. 

Madge. Why, a ghost! 

Mrs. K. a ghost! 

Madge. Yes, a ghost! And it frightened him almost to 
death. 

Mrs. K. I wonder why Santa Claus did not come to 
him? 

Madge. Teacher said because he was a bad, mean man. 

Mrs. K. And what did the ghost do to him? 

Madge. He showed him how stingy he was, and Scrooge 
got so frightened that he was not stingy any more, and then 
Santa Claus came back to him. 

Mrs. K. There's James, whistling as usual. 

James bursts into the room, his arms filled with loaf 
of bread, bottle of milk, sugar, a package of tea and a little 
butter. He lays them on the table. 

James. Talk about your Santa Claus ! I'm the real stuff! 

]\Irs. K. Where in the world did you get all of those 
things, James? 

James. Why, Mother, a man and a lady were talking to 
me on the corner where Dad is working, and they asked all 
about us. They asked my name and where I lived, and I 
told them that the man playing Santa Claus was my Dad. 

Mrs. K. WqW, did they give you the things? 

James. No. When they left, the man gave me fifty cents 
to give to Dad for his lunch, and when I was going to give 
it to Dad, he said as I should buy these things and take 
'em home to you. 

Madge. Oh, Mother, I'm so hungry. 

James. That's no joke, sister, we're all hungry, and so's 
Dad, but he says as he'll get a bite a little later on. 

Mrs. K. (sets the table, places tea kettle in fireplace, cuts 
bread, etc.). I think we shall all feel better for something 
to eat. Daddy is a good Daddy, isn't he, Madge, to think 
of us here at home? 

Madge. Yes, I love mv Daddv. He isn't like Scrooge. 



12 A DEPARTMENT STORE SANTA CLAUS 

James. Ah ! Scrooge. Who's been telling you about 
that fellow? 

Madge. Why, teacher did the other day in school. 

James (boastfully). I know all about him. He's in a 
story called "A Christmas Carol." That's a book for little 
kids. 

Madge. Yes, and teacher told us that Santa Claus is 
coming to us all. 

James. I don't see no signs of it 'round here. 

Mrs. K. Never mind, James, Santa Claus is sure to 
come. No one knows just how he does it, but he fills our 
stockings with good things and steals away so quietly that 
we never hear him. 

Madge. Yes, and teacher says as how he comes down 
the chimney after we are all asleep and tiptoes about and 
climbs back again and goes to other people's houses. 

James. Ah, that's all a fairy tale. I don't believe it. 

Madge (begins to cry). He does so, 'cause teacher said 
so, and she knows everything! 

James. When you get bigger, sister, I guess you won't 
believe everything people tell you. 

Mrs. K. James, you must not talk that way to little 
sister. A better day is coming to all of us, and as Tiny Tim 
says, "God bless us everyone." Hasn't God blessed us in 
giving us something to eat when we are so hungry ? 

James. I guess He has, but the man that gave me the 
half did that. 

Mrs. K. James, dear, why did that man give you the 
money ? 

James. I guess he felt sorry for Dad. 

Mrs. K. Why did Dad send you for the things to bring 
home to us? 

James. I guess he didn't want us to be hungry. 

Madge (interrupts). T feel better now. My throat don't 
hurt so much any more. Can I go out, Mother? 

Mrs. K. No, no, my dear ; not today. It's too cold and 
damp outside. Maybe tomorrow you may go out for awhile. 



A DEPARTMENT STORE SANTA CLAUS 13 

James (Mrs. K. spreading sandwiches). Say, Mother, 
what are you making these sandwiches for? 

Mrs. K. As soon as you are through, James, I want 
you to take them to Daddy, and tell him that he must eat 
them, and tell him how happy we all are. 

James. All right, Mother. That fifty cents went a long 
way, didn't it? I guess Santa Claus must have seen this 
place all right. 

Knock is heard at door. James opens the door, admit- 
ting ]\Irs. Smithson. 

!Mrs. S. Ah, here's where you live. I had a hard time 
finding you, but some little children outside told me you 
lived here. (Extends her hand to ]Mrs. Kelly.) And this 
is Mrs. Kelly? 

Mrs. K. {diffidently). Yes, my name is Kelly. 

Mrs. S. I am Mrs. Smithson. I asked your boy, James, 
about you this morning, and I understand from him that 
you are having a hard time just now. 

Mrs. K. (places a chair for ]\Irs. Smithson). Won't 
you sit down, Mrs. Smithson? (James takes sandzmches and 
slyly steals azvay.) Yes, we have had a very hard time for 
the pa-st two months. My husband was laid off in October 
at the pocket-book factory. I guess the hard times don't 
call for any more pocket-books. 

Mrs. S. That's very true, but hasn't your husband been 
able to find anything else to do? 

]\Irs. K. Not until the other day, when he found a place 
at "Dobs and Snobs" for a few days. 

Mrs. S. And he receives only $1.50 per day from *'Dobs 
and Snobs"? 

Mrs. K. Yes, that's all they can afford to pay Santa 
Claus, but it helps us a little. However, with the bills of 
last month, and Madge sick, I'm worried almost to death, 
when I think of what's coming. 

Mrs. S. Your husband seems to be a very good man 
from what I could see this morning. He makes a fine Santa 
Claus, and the children just flocked around him. 

Mrs. K. I suppose the clothes help a lot there, but Mr. 



14 A DEPARTMENT STORE SANTA CLAUS 

Kelly has always been very fond of children and loves to 
play with them. 

Mrs. S. That's fine ! I could see this morning that he 
knows how to take children. Tell me, Mrs. Kelly, you say 
that your husband is a pocket-book maker by trade? 

Mrs. K. Yes, he had a pretty good place with "Raynes 
& Co.," but they were obliged to lay off some of their best 
help on account of hard times. 

Mrs. S. He knows all about leather, then, and can tell 
good leather from bad? 

Mrs. K. That's part of his trade, Mrs. Smithson. 

Mrs. S. Indeed, I am sure we shall be able to help him 
somehow. (Turns to Madge.) And this is little Maggie that 
your brother Jim told me about? 

Mrs. K. Yes, that's Madge. She's not so well; but I 
think she is going to be better soon. Aren't you, dear? 

Madge (shyly). Yes, Mother, I am going out tomorrow. 

Mrs. S. Our little Madge dare not go out in this weather, 
because it's beginning to snow. 

Madge (excitedly). Oh, goody, goody, I'm going to play 
with Sally McGuire on her sled! 

Mrs. K. Yes, my dear, but you must get perfectly well 
first. (Pauses.) I was much amused over the way James 
and Madge fussed over Santa Claus before you came, Mrs. 
Smithson. James does not think there is such a person as 
Santa Claus, and Madge says there is. Don't you, Madge? 

Madge. Yes, teacher said so the other day. 

Mrs. S. Indeed, all of us think so. 

Mrs. K. It certainly does look as though he's thinking 
of us just now. 

Mrs. S. He thinks of everyone, Mrs. Kelly, he thinks 
of everyone. 

Mrs. K. A better day is coming. 

The stage is darkened or the curtain lozvered a few sec- 
onds between Scene II and the Tableau. 

Tableau. 



A DEPARTMENT STORE SANTA CLAUS 15 

Scene : Same as Scene II. Stage dimly lighted to indicate 
it is night, but zvhen the characters enter, Santa Claus 
may light the lamp, then lights full up. 

At rise of curtain none of the characters are on the stage, 
Santa Claus and eight to tzvelve children enter immedi- 
ately through the fireplace. They bring unth them several 
nczv furnishings {see list of properties for third scene), a 
small Christmas tree, decorations, and presents for the fam- 
ily. With these they transform the room into a place of 
Christmas cheer, so that the Kellys do not recognise it as 
their room in the morning. 

Music should accompany this scene throughout, while the 

children gracefully Hit about helping Santa Claus arrange 

the gifts. A fairy dance is. a very effective close for the 

Tableau. ^ 

Curtain. 

Scene III : Dazvn. Room as Santa Claus and children 

left it 

Mrs. K. enters, raises hand, is stupefied. 

Mrs. K. Mercy ! What can it all mean? (Hesitates, turns 
to door, calls for family.) John! Madge! James! 
Madge rushes in. 

Madge. Has he been here? (Stands gazing at the tree.) 

Mrs. K. Has he been here ? Well, I should say he has ! 
James enters excitedly. 

James. Say, what do you know about it! Somebody's 
been mighty good to this family. 

Madge. Why, Jimmy, it's Santa Claus ! I told you there 
is a Santa Claus and you wouldn't believe me. 

James. I sure believe you now, sister. 

Madge. Yes, and here is a piece of his fur. (Finds a 
piece of fur on floor, pokes it into James"* face.) 

James. That's just the stuff his coat is made of! 
Mr. Kelly enters, rubbing eyes. 

Mr. Kelly. Well ! Well ! Well ! Where did all this come 
from? 



16 A DEPARTMENT STORE SANTA CLAUS 

Madge. Why, Santa brought it, don't you know, Papa? 

Mr. K. I thought he would come, Madge, I thought he 
would come ; but I never thought he would come so loaded 
with all these fine things and that beautiful tree. It's too 
much, it's too much! 

(All examine thmgs as they keep on conversing.) 

Mrs. K. See, John, what a fine suit there is for you! 

Mr. K. There are fine things for everybody! I can't 
believe it! It's too much for me! 

James. Why, Dad, what's there to believe ; it's all here. 
(Holds up a gift.) 

Mrs. K. God answers prayers. He certainly does! 

Madge. Yes, He does. Mother. I asked Him to send 
Santa Claus to us, and He did, didn't He? 

Mrs. K. Yes, my dear, He has answered all our prayers. 

Madge. Teacher said that God would bless us everyone. 

James. Say, this here bob-sled's a peach! Just watch 
my smoke going down Prehn's Hill ! Whee ! Heads up ! 

Madge. And my doll can open and close her eyes. 

Mrs. K. Why, John, just see how everything is changed. 
There were nO' curtains, no rug and no pictures. Now, 
see how beautiful everything is ! I can't believe my eyes. 

Mr. K. Well, that smarty Higginbottom can say what 
he pleases about the nonsense of prayer and faith, but I 
shall bring him here today and he can see for himself. 

A knock at the door. Mrs. K. opens the door, admitting 
the Smithsons. 

Mrs. S. Merry Christmas to you all ! (Shakes Mrs. 
Kelly's hand ivarmly.) This is my husband and here is 
my daughter. May. And you, I suppose, are Mr. Kelly — 
and there are Madge and James just having a fine time! 
We have just dropped in to wish you all a very happy 

(Shaking hands all around.) 

Mrs. K. Thank you, thank you, so much, and we wish 
you the same with all our hearts. 



A DEPARTMENT STORE SANTA GLAUS 17 

^Ir. S. (takes Mr. Kelly aside). Mr. Kelly, my wife 
has been telling me of your hard luck. 

Mr. K. (bids them he seated). I am afraid that my good 
wife has been telling you too much about us. We have had 
a hard time lately, but as my wife is always saying, "A 
better day will come." 

(Children busy with toys. May makes up zvith them.) 

Mr. S. Mr. Kelly, it's a great comfort to a man, no 
matter how much hard luck he may have, to have a wife 
who can say that. 

Mrs. S. You children are just having a fine time, aren't 
you ? 

James. You bet we are ! 

May. ^lother, Madge says she would like to come over 
to play with me some day. Mayn't she? 

Mrs. S. Indeed she may. We'll come over in the car 
and take her home with us. 

Madge. Goody, goody; and I'll promise to be a good 
girl, too. 

May. Did you hear Santa Claus last night, Madge? 

Madge. Yes, I think I did ; but maybe I was dreaming. 

Mrs. K. Dreams or no dreams, my dear, Santa Claus 
was certainly here. 

James. It looks it, all right! 

Mr. K. It certainly does, and we have much to be thank- 
ful for. 

LIadge. "God bless us everyone." 

Mr. S. -Mr. Kelly, good people, even though poor, are 
always somehow or other remembered, and I want you to 
regard me as your friend. After learning a few facts from 
my wife about you and your family, I have been able to 
secure a position for you in the leather department of "Dobs 
and Snobs," which will pay more than $1.50 a day, and they 
expect you to report for work tomorrow morning. 

]\Ir. K. (rises and zvalks over to shake Mr. Smithson's 
hand). Thank you, thank you, from the bottom of my 
heart ! I'll do my best to please. 



18 A DEPARTMENT STORE SANTA CLAUS 

Mr. S. Never fear. I asked about your work at "Raynes 
& Co." and they give you a very fine recommendation and 
are sorry, indeed, that they had to lose you. 

Mr. K. Thank you, sir; thank you! 

Mrs. K. a better day has come. 

(A Carol is sung in the distance. All stand or sit, nat- 
urally grouped. Lights gradually become dimmer and all is 
dark as the last stanza of Carol is sung.) 

Curtain. 



Mrs. Tubbs Does Her Bit 

By WALTER BEN HARE 

Price, 25 Cents 

Patriotic comedy-drama, in 3 acts; 7 males, 7 females (4 are 
children, 2 bo\s, 2 girls). Time, 2 ',4 hours. Scenes: Interior and 
a camp at midnight, very easily arranged. Characters: Mrs. 
Mollie Tubbs, a patriotic mother. Aunt Serepty, a wealiliy rela- 
tive. Clingie Vine, a romantic old maid. Mrs. Hickey, a kind 
neighbor. Elsie, a Red Cross nurse. James Tubbs, one of Uncle 
Sam's boys. Simon Rubbels, the close-fisted landlord. Major Pep- 
per, commander of the camp. Nelson and Graham, privates. 
Queenie Tubbs, aged eleven. Scuffles, aged ten. Billy, a little 
feller. Punky, the Tubbs toddler. A refined and delightful play 
featuring a woman's patriotism. The story is intensely dramatic 
and abounds in patriotic sentiment, relieved by several scenes of 
broad but refined comedy. Mrs, Tubbs gives her son to her coun- 
try and does her bit when she takes his place as sentry at the 
training camp at midnight. A Red Cross nurse I6nds a romantic 
touch to the play and a funny old maid and two mischievous 
children furnish the comedy. The audience will love this poor 
widow washwoman of Sliantytown, who at the darkest moment 
has a ready smile and a song of cheer in her heart. 

MRS. TUBBS SAYS: 

"A song and a smile makes life worth while. 

Eggs has riz sump'm scand'lous. How do the hens know 
there's a war over in Europe? 

Some folks 'ud rather grunt than smile; I ain't never heard 
a hog laugh yet. but they certainly can grunt. 

I know that if I had ten sons, I'd give each one of 'em to my 
country and be proud to say, 'America, here's my boy!' 

I ain't never received nothin' yet from my rich relations except 
advice and picture post-cards and I ain't goin' to ask 'em now. 

I ain't much, I know that, I'm only a poor widow washwoman 
livin' in the slums of Shantytown, but I'm an American and I'll 
stand up fer my country and my flag. 

Maybe Simon Rubbels ain't as bad as he's painted, but there 
ain't no angel wings a-sproutin' out of his shoulders and I've no- 
ticed that his breath smells a heap more like brimstone than it 
does like angel cake. 

I've made up my mind and when Mollie Tubbs makes up her 
mind the hull United States aimy and navy to boot can't unmake 
It. Gimme that rifle! I'm doing my bit fer humanity and my 
native land. 

If every black cloud had a cyclone in it, the world 'ud a been 
blowed to toothpicks long ago. 

And quit lookin' like a undertaker! 

It's the little things in life that count, Scuflfles. The little 
things. Why you might have a di'mond ring on your finger and 
a gold watch in your pocket, but if you only got one suspender 
button and that busts, then where are you? 

Hand to hand, foot to foot, shoulder to slioulder they march, 
the rich and the poor, the high and the low. tlie college man and 
the day laborer, the millionaire and the tramp, the white and 
the black, with one idea in their minds, one purpose in their 
hearts, one voice in their ears, a voice that says 'Carry on. and 
on, and on, forward for God and home and The Star-Spangled 
Banner!' " 

T. S. DENISON & COMPANY, Publishers 

154 W. Randolph Street, CHICAGO 



The Call o£ the Colors 

By LINDSEY BARBEE 

Price, 25 Cents 

A patriotic play in 2 acts; 4 males, 10 females. Time, 1^/^ 
hours. Scenes: 2 interiors, easily arranged. In act one a Red 
Cross gauze room is shown. A true-to-life picture; the awkward 
worker reprimanded for going a sixteenth of an inch too far; 
the suspicion of spies in the room; the girls' opinion of slackers; 
their hero. Sergeant Hilton, back from "over there"; his mys- 
terious little black book and the joy when Harrison dons the 
khaki. Tense interest, lightened by comedy. In act two the scene 
is transported to a French chateau near the firing line. A plucky 
girl unmasks a spy and saves a repository of ammunition from 
bombardment. Military enthusiasm, mysterious intrigue and a 
war-time love story — truly a combination symbolic of the days 
in which we live. A French peasant girl, an excellent part. 

SYNOPSIS 

Act, I. — The Red Cross gauze room has various visitors. Ser- 
geant Hilton proves the chief topic of conversation and the strange 
Miss Smith is cordially welcomed. Harrison Ray is declared a 
slacker — and Sergeant Hilton's little black book causes much spec- 
ulation. Miriam makes an announcement; Harrison offers an ex- 
planation — and the boys go marching by! 

Act II. — Sergeant Hilton renews his acquaintance with Miriam 
and learns of the ammunition hidden in the village. The Germans 
arrive. The Sergeant loses his little black book — and Vilette brings 
news of the enemy. Miss Smith finds the book and sends a mes- 
sage. By means of the secret telephone, Cecile communicates 
with the other chateau — and the firing begins. Sergeant Hilton 
returns — in another role; a bugle sounds and the Stars and Stripes 
go floating by. The Sergeant, taken unawares, faces a revolver, 
Harrison Ray tells his story; the mystery is solved and the day 
is saved ! 



Lottie Sees It Through 

By RAGNA B. ESKIL 

Price, 15 Cents 

Patriotic playlet; 3 males, 4 females. Time, 35 minutes. Scene: 
A scantily furnished living room. This timely play should induce 
any community to give liberally. Written for the Red Cross, 
but with the change of a few words it will plead for the Liberty 
Loan, the Y. M. C. A. fund or any other cause as worthy. Its 
action is based on the elemental question — can one refuse to 
give to his country and yet be at ease with his conscience? Still 
it is not a somber or dreary play — it has its light touches. It 
stirs the heart and its climax will arouse a fervor of patriotism 
only comparable to a religious revival. If unable to produce this 
play, get someone to read it as it cannot help but stimulate action. 



T. S. DENISON & COMPANY, Publishers 

154 W. Randolph Street, CHICAGO 



DENISON'S ACTING PLAYS 

Price 15 Cents Each, Postpaid, Unless Different Price is Given 



Trial of Hearts, 4. acts,, 2^4 1""3. 

(25c) ..,,..:.. a.]2 

Trip to Storyland, 1% firs: (25c) 17 2 i 

I'licle Josh, 4 acts, 2|4 lirs.(25c) 8 3 
U'nJcr Blue Skies, 4 acts, 2 

hrs. (25c) 7 10 

Under the Laurels, 5 acts, 2 hrs. 6 4 
Winning Widow, 2 acts, IJ^ hrs. 

(25c) 2 4 

Women Who Did, 1 hr...(25c) 17 

Yankee Detective, 3 acts, 2 hrs. 8 3 

FARCES. COIMEDIETAS, Etc. 

AH on a Summer's Day, 40 min. 4 6 

April Fools, 30 min 3 

Assessor, The, 10 min 3 2 

\unt Harriet's Night Out, 35 

min . 1 2 

r>aby Show at Pineville, 20 min. 19 

T.illv's Clibrus Girl, 25 min... 2 3 

Lilly's Mishap, 20 min 2 3 

Borrowed Luncheon, 20 min., 5 

r.orrowing Trouble, 20 min.... 3 5 
Case Against Casey, 40 min... 23 

Country Justice, 15 min 8 

Cow that Kicked Chicago, 20 m. 3 2 

Divided Attentions, 35 min... 1 4 

Family Strike, 20 min 3 3 

First-Class Hotel, 20 min 4 

For Love and Honor, 20 min.. 2 1 

Fudge and a Burglar, 15 min.. 5 

Fun in Photo Gallerv, 30 min.. 6 10 

(letting Rid of Father, 20 min. 3 1 
Great IMedical Dispensary, 30 m. 6 
Great Pumpkin Case, 30 min . . 12 

Hans Von Smasli, 30 min.... 4 3 
Initiating a Granger, 25 min. . 8 

Irish Linen Peddler, 40 min... 3 3 

Kansas Immigrants, 20 min... 5 1 

Lottie Sees It Through, 35 min. 3 4 

Men Not Wanted, 30 min 8 

Mother Goose's Goslings, 30 m. 7 9 

Mrs. Jenkins' Brilliant Idea, 35m. 8 

Mrs. Stubbins' Book Agent, 30 m. 3 2 

Not a Man in the House, 40 m. 5 

Pair of Lunatics, 20 min 1 1 

Patsy O'Wang, 35 min ....... 4 3 

Pat, the Apothecary, 35 min.. 6 2 

Persecuted Dutchman, 30 min. 6 3 

Please Pass the (ream, 20 min. 1 1 

Second Childhood, IS min.... 2 2 

Shadows, 35 min 2 2 

Sing a Song of Seniors, 30 min. 7 

Smith's Unlucky Dav, 20 min.. 1 1 

Taking Father's Place, 30 min. 5 3 

That Rascal Pat. 30 min 3 2 

-Too Much of a Good Thing, 45 

^ min 3 6 

Turn Him Out, 35 min 3 2 

Two Aunts and a Photo, 20 m. 4 
Two Gentlemen in a Fix, 15 m. 2 

Two Ghosts in White, 20 min . . S 



M. !••. 

Two of a Kind, 40 min...... J 3 

Uncle Dick's Mistake, 20 min.. 3. 2 

Wanted a Correspondent, 45 m. 4 4 
Watch, a Wallet, and a Jack of 

' Spades, 40 min. ......... . 3 ii 

The Whole Truth, 40 min 5 4 

Who's the Boss? 25 min 3 6 

Wide Enough for Two, 45 min. 5 2 

Wror»g Baby, 25 min 8 

VAUDEVILLE SKETCHES, MON- 
OLOGUES, ETHIOPIAN PLAYS. 

Amateur, 15 min 1 1 

At Harmony Junction, 20 mni. 4 

Axin' Her Father, 25 min 2 .> 

Booster Club of Blackvillc, 25 iii.lO 
Breakfast Food for Two, 20 m. 1 1 

Cold Finish, 15 min... 2 1 

Colored Honeymoon, 25 min... 2 2 
Coon Creek Courtship, 15 min. 1 1 
Coming Champion, 20 min .... 2 
Coontown Thirteen Clui), 25 m.l4 

Counterfeit Bills, 20 min 1 1 

Darktown Fire Brigade, 25 min. 10 
Doings of a Dude, 20 min.... 2 1 

For Reform, 20 min 4 

Fresh Timothy Hay, 20 min.. 2 1 
Glickman, the Glazier, 25 niin. 1 1 
Good Momin* Judge, 35 min. . 9 J 

Her Hero, 20 min. 1 1 

Trej% Rube! 15 min 1 

Home Run, 15 min ?.... 1 1 

Hungry, 15 min 2 

Little Miss Enemy, 15 min.... 1 1 
Little Red School House, 20 m. 4 

Love and Lather, 35 min 3 2 

Marriage and After, 10 min.. 1 

Memnliis Mose, 25 min.". 5 1 

Mischievous Nigger, 25 min.. 4 C 

Mr. and Mrs. Fido, 20 min 1 1 

Oh, Doctor! 30 min 6 2 

One Sweetheart for Two, 20 m. . 2 

Oyster Stew, 10 min 2 

Pete Yansen's Curl's Moder, lOni. 1 

Pickles for Two, 15 min 2 

hi and I, 15 min 1 

Special Sale, 15 min 2 

Street Faker, 15 min 3 

Such Ignorance, 15 min 2 

Sunny Son of Italy, 15 min.. 1 

Time Table, 20 min ,1 1 

Tramp, and the Actress, 20 min. 1 1 
Troubled by Ghosts, 10 rain... 4 
Troubles of Rozinski, 15 'min.. 1 
Two Jay Detectives, 15 min.. 3 
Umbrella Mender, 15 min.... 2 
What Happened to Hannah, 1 5ni. 1 1 

A great number of 

Standard and Amateur Plays 

not found liere are listed in 

Denison's Catalogue 



T. S. DENISON & COMPANY, Publishers, 1 54 W. Randolph St. , Chicago 



POPULAR ENTERTAINMI 

Price, Illustrated Paper Covers, 34 



lif.??^''^ ^^ CONGRESS 




IN this Series 
are found 
books touching 
every feature 
in the enter- 
tainment field. 
Finely made, 
good paper, 
clear print and 
each book has 
an attractive 
individual cov- 
er design. 



A Partial List 

DIALOGUES 

All Sorts of Dialogues. 

Selected, fine for older pupils. 
Catchy Comic Dialogues. 

Very clever; for young people. 
.Children's Comic Dialogues. 

From six to eleven years of age. 
Country School Dialogues. 

Brand new, original. 
Dialogues for District Schools. 

For country schools. 
Dialogues from picl<ens. 

Thirteen selections. 
The Friday Afternoon Dialogues. 

Over 50,000 copies sold. 
From Tots to Teens. 

Dialogues and recitations. 
Humorous Homespun Dialogues. 

For older ones. 
Little People's Plays. 

From 7 to 13 years of age. 
Lively Dialogues. 

For all ages; mostly humorous. 
Merry Little Dialogues. 

Thirty-eight original selections. 
When the Lessons are Over. 

Dialogues, drills, plays. 
'Wide Awake Dialogues. 

Original successful. 

SPEAKERS, MONOLOGUES 

Choice Pieces for Little People. 

A child's speaker. 
The Comic Entertainer. 

Recitations, monologues, dialogues. 
Dialect Readings. 

Irish, Dutch, Negro, Scotch, etc. 
The Favorite Speaker. 

Choice prose and poetry. 
The Fridajf Afternoon Speaker. 

For pupils of all ages. 
Humorous Monologues. 

Particularly for ladies. 
Monologues for Young Folks. 

Clever, humorous, original. 




Monologui 

Drama 

^'Th-o^°=' ... 016 i03""'457"5 

morous, descriptive, p r 
poetry. 15 Nos., per No.' 

DRILLS 

The Best Drill Book. 

Very popular drills and marches. 
The Favorite Book of Drills. 

Drills that sparkle with originality. 
Little Plays With Drills. 

For children from 6 to 11 years. 
The Surprise Drill Book. 

Fi^esh, novel, drills and marches. 

SPECIALTIES 

The Boys' Entertainer. 

Monologues, dialogues, drills. 
Children's Party Book. 

Invitations, decorations, games. 
The Days We Celebrate. 

Entertainments for all the holidays. 
Good Things for Christmas. 

Recitations, dialogues, drills. 
Good Things for Sunday Schools. 

Dialogues, exercises, recitations. 
Good Things for Thanksgiving. 

A gem of a boolc 
Good Things for Washington 

and Lincoln Birthdays. 
Little Folks' Budget. 

Easy pieces to speak, songs. 
One Hundred Entertainments. 

New parlor diversions, socials. 
Patriotic Celebrations. 

Great variety of material. 
Pictured Readings and Tableaux. 

Entirely original features. 
Pranks and Pastimes. 

Parlor games for children. 
Private Theatricals. 

How to put on plays. 
Shadow Pictures, Pantomimes, 

Charades, and how to prepare. 
Tableaux and Scenic Readings. 

New and novel; for all ages. 
Twinkling Fingers and Sway- 
ing Figures. For little tots. 
Yuletide Entertainments. 

A choice Christmas collection. 

MINSTRELS, JOKES 

Black-Face Joker. 

Minstrels' and end men's gags. 
A Bundle of Burnt Cork Comedy. 

Monologues, stump speeches, etc. 
Laughland,via the Ha-Ha Route. 

A merry trip for fun tourists. 
Negro Minstrels. 

All about the business. 
The New Jolly Jester. 

Funny stories, jokes, gags, etc. 

Large Illustrated Cataloeue Free 



T.S.DENISO^ & COMPANY,Publishers,154W.Randolph St., Chicago 



